Vehicle



(No Model.)

D. N. .KRATZER.

VEHICLE. No. 441,768; Patented Deo.'2, 1'890.

UNITE STATES ATENT FFICE.

DAVID N. KRATZER, OF MARION, IOIVA.

VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,768, dated December2, 1890.

Application filed October 10, 1890. Serial No. 367,695. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, DAVID N. KRATZER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the mounting of the bodies of vehicles on therunninggear thereof; and the object of theinvention is to secure apleasant and comfortable action of the body,'and one which shall beuniform on both sides thereof, whether the load be equal or not.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan View, from the under side, of a running-gearembodying my invent-ion. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the same. Fig. 3 is afragmentary elevation showing the construction of the rack and segmentalgears, and Fig. 4is a view in perspective of the same, showing amodification in the manner of attaching it to the bars which support thebody.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention relates to that class of vehicles wherein the body iselastically connected with the running-gear by a coil-spring.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the front axle, A the rear one,B the body, and O the head-block. These parts do not differ essentiallyfrom those in common use.

The body is supported upon cranked bars or rods D D, pivotallyconnected-with the rear axle and the head-block by suitable boxes a a.The main portion of the bars is connected with the body by links orshackles b b, or equivalent connection, adapted to allow for thenecessary lateral movement of the bars with respect to the body. Themiddle portion of the bars connects with a cogged segment E, the centerof the arc of which is the pivots connecting with the rear axle andcross head. Between these two segments is a rack F, the cogs of whichengage with those of the segments. Each segment is provided with twosets of teeth, as will be seen, one set engaging with the teeth of therack and the other with those of the opposite segment, so that thesegments are separated where the rack is interposed, which is preferablyin the middle. Evidently both of the lateral flanges of the segments maybe cogged and mesh together, or but'one flange, the other being simplyto retain the rack in proper vertical position. The upper portion of therack is extended into the body of the vehicle through a coilspring G,secured between the bottom of the body and a washer or flange 0 near theupper end of the rack, and held in proper position by a nut (Z.

The segments may be connected with the cranked bars or rock-shafts in avariety of ways. Two simple formsof attachment are illustrated in thedrawings. In one of these the outer end of the segment has a notchfitting on the rock-shaft, and the rock-shaftis provided with braces DD, extending inwardly and bolted to the segments. Another attachment isshown in Fig. 4. In this case the middle portion of the rock-shaft isturned inwardly, and the interposed segment, the sides of which areconcaved or otherwise fitted to the inwardly-turned parts of the rockshaft, is secured to the rock-shaft by a clamp 6. By securing the endsof the pivots from longitudinal displacement, as by not and washer, andsuitably bracing the rock-shafts, they may serve in the place of areach,as well as a support for the body. 7

The operation of the device will be readily understood. As the bodyisdepressed by the weight upon it the segments are forced downwardly, andbeing meshed together mediately or directly they must descendsimultaneously. In doing this the ei'igaging rack is carried downwardly,thus compressing the coil-spring and giving elastic action to themovement of the body. It is to be understood that the action of therock-shafts would be practically simultaneous if engaging only with theintermediate rack; but, as in such case there would be more or less lostmotion, I prefer to connect the segments directly by engaging teeth witha separate connection for the rack.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vehicle, the combination, with the head-block and the rear axle,of a pair of rockshafts pivotally connected by the outer arm with saidhead-block and axle, intermediately and pivotally. connected with thebody, and having inwardly-extending segments engaging with a toothedrack, a toothed rack, and a spring adapted to be compressed by thedownward movement of said rack, substan' tially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a vehicle, the combination, with the head-block and rear axle, ofa pair of longitudinal rock-shafts having outwardly-extending armspivoted to saidhead-block and axle, inwardly-extending engagingsegments, a rack engaging with each segment, a spring adapted to becompressed by the downward movement of the rack, and a connection ofsuch rock-shafts with the body between the outer pivots and the saidsegments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a vehicle, the combination, with the body and running-gear,substantially as described, of a pair of rock-shafts havingoutwardly-extending arms pivotally but uncletachably connected with thehead-block and axle, inwardly-extending segments engaging with aninterposed vertical rack, a rack, and a spring compressible by thedownward movement of the rack, and a pivotal connection of therockshafts with the body between the said segments and the outer pivots,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a vehicle, the combination, with rocking bars or shafts adapted tosupport the body on the running-gear and having toothed se,,- mentsconnected therewith, of a rack engaging with said segments and adaptedto compress a spring in its movement, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a vehicle, the combination, with a pair of toothed segmentsadapted to be actuated by the body, of an interposed rack adapted toimpart simultaneous movement to the segments, a spring connected withsaid rack and adapted to be compressed by its movement, and a pivotalconnection of said segments with the running-gear, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID N. KRA'IZER. \Vitnesses:

S. W. BRAINERD, L. A. ST. JOHN.

